2011-11-17-HPB-min - Laserfiche WebLink

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Lexington Housing Partnership Wright Farm A BOS meeting in executive session with committee chairs from committees interested in the purchase of the Wright Farm on Grove Street was held. The Wright Family has recently indicated its intent to sell the property. The committees present included finance, community preservation, conservation, recreation housing, the Partnership and LexHAB. The13+ acre site off Grove Street on the Bedford, Burlington and Lexington line is now on the market. The site has wetlands and other constraints but could potentially accommodate twelve homes as well. Two plans have been prepared for the owner, both showing twelve lots, one being a cluster arrangement with significant open space. Conservation is very interested in owning the property. It is Chapter 61A property and the Town has right of first refusal on the property. By statute, market value needs to be established. The Wright family may be interested in deeding the property to the Town and retaining a life estate. At the end of the meeting, BOS asked for two appraisals to establish value. CPC has administrative funds and will allocate funds for the two appraisals. BOS wishes to have the use specified when they take the purchase to Town Meeting. The Partnership then discussed what kind of housing could be situated on the site. Both farm house and small cottage (1 and 2 BD) homes are possible in cluster formation to preserve open space. Financing would have to be investigated. Julie Duncan thinks it is an excellent site for larger homes that are deemed “sustainable” because of the setting. The Partnership will look at the density calculation based on ‘site sensitive” development. The “cottage” concept is one that the Partnership wishes to explore further focusing on a cluster arrangement with a paddock or other open space. The second aspect we will explore is the reuse of the farmhouse and barn. Both the farmhouse and barn are in good condition. A motion was made to establish a subcommittee of the Partnership and LexHAB to jointly develop a plan for affordable housing on the Wright site. The motion passed 8-0. A subcommittee will be formed to evaluate the site. Tom Harden, Betsey Weiss, Ken Kreutziger and Carol Marine participate on behalf of the Partnership. Ken Kreutziger will contact LexHAB and ask them to appoint some members to a joint committee. 3. Approval of Minutes Minutes, with corrections, were approved for October 13, 2011. The meeting was concluded at approximately 9:12 pm. Respectfully submitted: Carol Marine 2